Transcript Document
Determining Dependency
A GUIDE TO FEDERAL RULES REGARDING
STUDENT DEPENDENCY STATUS AND
PARENTAL DATA AS REPORTED ON THE
FAFSA.
Overview
Federal criteria for independent students
Who is and is not considered a “parent” (for federal
aid purposes)
Options for students who are not independent but do
not have access to parental information
Student
Dependency
Status on the
FAFSA
Why Does Dependency Matter?
Financial need based on a family contribution
Most “traditional” students will be dependent
Some students will have special circumstances
Students can be considered independent only if they
meet specific federally mandated criteria
Students must be able to answer “yes” to at least ONE of the
following criteria
2012/2013 Criteria for Independent Status
Born before January 1, 1989?
Married at the time the FAFSA is filed?
Graduate or professional student at the beginning of
the 2012/2013 school year?
2012/2013 Criteria for Independent Status
Active duty military (for purposes other than
training)?
Veteran of the US Armed Forces?
Engaged in active duty other than training OR
Were a cadet/midshipman at service academy
Released under a condition other than dishonorable
“No” if currently serving and will continue to serve through
June 30, 2013
2012/2013 Criteria for Independent Status
Have children who will receive more than half of
their support from applicant?
“Yes” if child will be born before July 1, 2013 and receive more
than half of their support from applicant.
Have dependents who will receive more than half of
their support from applicant?
2012/2013 Criteria for Independent Status
Since age 13 were applicant’s parents deceased, was
applicant in foster care, or was applicant a
dependent/ward of the court?
Emancipated minor (in state of legal residence)?
Legal guardianship (in state of legal residence)?
Schools may require proof of the above
2012/2013 Criteria for Independent Status
Unaccompanied youth that is homeless or at risk of
being homeless on/after July 1, 2011?
“Homeless” means lacking fixed, regular, and adequate
housing.
“Unaccompanied” means not living in the physical custody or
parent or guardian.
Must be determined by school liaison or director of
shelter/youth center/transitional housing program.
Dependency Overrides
Requires extreme special circumstance (abuse and
abandonment)
Requires documentation from a third party
Authority lies with Office of Financial Aid – decision
is final and no appeals to Dept. of Education
Reporting Parental
Data on the FAFSA
Parental Data
Parental data should be reported on the FAFSA for:
Biological parents
In divorce/separation, custodial parent ONLY
(Legally) Adoptive parents
Stepparents, if married to the custodial parent and
contributing to household
Parental Data
Parental data should NOT be reported on the FAFSA
for:
Foster parents
Legal guardians, relatives, or friends of the family who have
not legally adopted the applicant
No Access to Parental Data
If a student does not meet the criteria for
independence but legitimately cannot access
parental data (parent incarcerated, abuse,
abandonment):
Student should indicate on application that they will not
provide parental data and they meet special circumstances
criteria
Student should contact school(s) they sent a FAFSA record to
in order to determine next steps
Parental Refusal to Submit Data
If a student does not meet independent or special
circumstances criteria and their parents refuse to
submit/allow access to data:
Student can submit FAFSA without it and qualify for an
unsubsidized loan only
Parents must sign and date a statement indicating that they
are not/will not support student and will not provide data for
the FAFSA. If parents will not supply this, the statement must
come from a third party.
Questions?
Resources
www.fafsa.gov
www.studentaid.ed.gov/pubs
Dependency
“Qualifying
Available
checklist
Parent” information
in English and Spanish
Thank you!
Alexis Wolf
Financial Aid Administrator
ISFAA Member
[email protected]
www.isfaa.org